Readers sound off on subway fare hike, President Obama and Mitt Romney

By Voice of the People

|NEW YORK DAILY NEWS|

Sep 23, 2012 | 4:00 AM

The cost of a ride on the subway is going up. (Bryan Smith)

Fare runs in just one direction

Brooklyn: To Voicer Robert G. Wright: It's brainwashed people like you who are the real cause of our problems. You blame the subway fare hikes on middle-class union workers, students, and senior citizens? Seriously? So your first reaction is to take small perks away from the cops, firemen, and transit workers who make sure all the commuters you speak of get to and from work safely? Your first reaction is to take away small perks from seniors who live on fixed incomes and students who are just starting out trying to get somewhere in life?

Advertisement

But the last thing on your mind is to lay the blame on the managers who are obviously misappropriating funds and spending more than they take in?

The last thing on your mind is to blame the politicians who appoint the board members who don't even ride the system and take limos paid for by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to the meetings where they vote to raise the fares and cut service? Anthony Gabriele

Faint praise

Bronx: To Voicer Harry Yusak: I can tell you why we should stay with President Obama. He is the lesser of two evils, and I trust him more than I trust Mitt Romney. By the way, I don't lean left or right. I stand perfectly in the middle. Rodney S. Russell

Harm's way

Flushing: Re Mitt Romney's remarks about the 47% of people receiving government assistance, delivered in a room that was supposedly meant, exclusively, for Romney contributors: I fail to comprehend how a secret camera phone could have been allowed to be present and operating in that room. Where was the Secret Service, whose mission is to protect major presidential candidates from harm? Shouldn't they be guarding against uninvited guests and clandestine hardware, such as a camera phone? A camera phone could just as easily have been a firearm disguised as a camera. Saul Grossman

Life imitates art

Kew Gardens: Mitt Romney's 47% comment is very similar to Lonesome Rhodes' derogatory remarks, which led to his downfall, in the movie "A Face in the Crowd." Glenn Hayes

One of many

Brooklyn: To Voicer Chuck Eckstein and all the other people who think Mitt Romney is correct regarding the 47% of the population he thinks are freeloaders: My aunt is 92 years old, and she worked for the government for 30 years at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Manhattan. She receives a pension for her years of service and her deceased husband's Social Security, but she needs food stamps to supplement her income and provide healthy food choices. She has health care, not because she is entitled to it but because she paid for it when she was working, and she keeps a roof over her heard by paying her own rent and utilities with her pension and survivor's benefits. She pays no taxes because her income is not high enough to be taxed. Contrary to what Romney believes, the 47% don't want hand-outs, they want a hand up. Debra H. Reaves-Bey

Stamford, Conn.: Your bias in favor of President Obama is becoming patently evident. Thursday was the second day in a row that Romney has been castigated on the front page ("Mitt mutiny," Sept. 20). Why not publish a picture of President Obama meeting with a man in a pirate costume in the White House? This from a President who doesn't have time to meet with the prime minister of Israel. It is time for equal coverage. Alice R. Alter

Slow going

Astoria: It is sickening that our President and his team took so long to call what happened to Ambassador Christopher Stevens and the three other souls killed with him on the anniversary of 9/11 what it was — a terrorist attack. Linda Smith

The company he keeps

Brooklyn: Re President Obama's fund-raiser run by Beyoncé and Jay-Z: I find it interesting that the President of the United States is allowed to associate with a former drug dealer. More interesting is that instead of being scrutinized for this, he is lauded for it. In my job, if I hang out with former criminals, I'm fired. Then again, at $40,000 a plate, I guess morals go out the window. Chris Barry

Grim outlook

Brooklyn: Thank you, President Obama, for bankrupting the country and preparing us for socialism. If you are elected, we will suffer for the next 15 years. Lena Cimmino

Worse and bad

Carmel, N.Y.: The best example of President Obama's economic policy failures is provided by his campaign, which would prefer to highlight foreign policy achievements while U.S. embassies are under siege across the world. Jim Duncan

Hasn't forgotten

South Ozone Park: To Voicer Nicole Phipps: The left continues to blame former President George W. Bush and the Republicans for the financial meltdown, forgetting to mention the Democrats' involvement. In 2006, the Democrats controlled the House and Senate banking committees and failed to rein in Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac. Kenneth Kucinskas

Collateral damage

Bronx: My 49-year-old handicapped sister, who has a very full life and lives in a wonderful group home, loves watching TV when she comes home from her workshop. She recently told me that she needs a new TV, because channel 114 is "broken." That is Antenna TV on Bronx Cablevision, and it is dark due to the conflict between Cablevision and the Tribune Co. It's not easy explaining to Laura this dispute over money. I know the loss of WPIX affects more people, but, Cablevision, please give Laura back her Antenna TV! Ellen Salacan Robinson

Fine tuning

Brentwood, L.I.: When you printed Voicer Robyn Kladerman's letter, you should have added the following disclaimer: "President Ford never said 'Drop dead' to New York. It was a Daily News headline that expressed his refusal to bail New York out of its financial situation." W. J. Van Sickle

New York's Finest

Staten Island: Re Voicer John Woodmaska: I had the honor of working with Chief Joseph Esposito when he was a sergeant in the 77th Precinct detective squad more than 30 years ago. By far, this man is the finest police officer in the NYPD, past, present and future. He also has an investigative mind second to none. Leading by example is a sign of a great leader. Louis Scarcella

Heartbreaker

Peekskill, N.Y.: There is so much wrong with the story of Jose Luis Rivera Castillo and his daughter Elena ("A kiss g'dbye," Sept. 19). Castillo sneaked into this country illegally, leaving his family behind. When his attempt to smuggle his wife into the U.S. failed, he started dating another woman, impregnated her and ended financial support of his family back in Mexico. Little Elena's situation is a result of selfish, lawbreaking people. My heart goes out to her. Annie Becker

Advertisement

Unneeded advice

Brooklyn: So Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan's new brilliant idea is to plaster these stupid "LOOK" things all around the city. She says "the simple act of looking can prevent thousands of crashes and injuries every year." Weren't we all taught to LOOK both ways before crossing the street? Janelle Fox

Boss gets off

Wading River, L.I.: The Department of Justice officials who left over Operation Fast and Furious are patsies for Attorney General Eric Holder. Why is he still in office? C. Rimicci

Pay the rent

Brooklyn: The New York City Housing Authority is completely and utterly useless. Not only does it fail to make repairs on its buildings and units, but it is way behind in paying Section 8 landlords the rent money that they are owed. My mother's tenant moved out in March, and she did not receive the rent for January, February or March. They say her numerous letters are in the system. What good does that do if they don't take care of it? Mary Ellen Becht